Typewriter attachment



NovB Z3 1926 F. DOVERSFHKE TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed August 19. 1925 14 TTORNE VJ' Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,310

F. DovERsPlKE TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT Filed August 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 33 3,' Z6 26 o f3 32 o /4 I? ,o5 /f ,f E /4 ,7 /7 'i f/fl, ffff .54 f5' H W] f 1 /5 l5 E! A u 43 43 3 |f Gl l 6/ I 4g 49 /6 .se 59 .f7 47 5gg Il 49 48 IN1/EN T022 FRF/wr .Do VERSP/KE i763 Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,310

F. DOVERSPIKE TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT Filed August 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 AT1-ORNE r3* Nov. 23 ,v 1926.

F. DovERsPIKE TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT Filed August 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fCPAA//f QI/fHJP//rf Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

Es PATEN T AOFFICE.

FRANK Dovnnsrlxn, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TYrnwnITER ATTACHMENT. i

Application 1e d.Augu%t 19, 1925. 'serial No. 51,170.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in typewriter attachments, and

more particularly ,to such a device adapted,

for use to take the place of the usual carbon paper employed in conjunction with a typewriter for making vduplicates or carbon copies.

An object of the invention is to provide a typewriter attachment ,having means for readily and conveniently connecting it to the usual platen carriage of a standard typewriter without the necessity of making any changes or alterations in the design of the typewriter and which will notaifect` the usual operation of the typewriter.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an attachment employing one or more ribbons adapted to be brought into position in front of the platen and back of the usual main record ribbon provided on the typewriter, whereby one or' more ink copies maybe made without the use of the carbon paper sheets usually employed forA this purpose.

A further object is to provide a typewriter attachment for making carbon copies comprising a supplemental frame adapted to be detach'ably` connected to the usual platen carriage of the typewriter, and which frame is provided with a ribbon supporting means so constructed that the relative position or` positions of the ribbon or ribbons may be laterally shifted with reference to the type` writer platen when it is founddesirable to present fresh printing surfaces of the ribbons to the point of impact of the ylpe.

A further object is to provide suc an attachment having means for 'maintaining the effective length of the supplemental ribbons under tension, thereby insuring a clean-cut imprint being made upon the sheet of paper being printed each time a type is actuated.

.A/further object is to provide such/ an attachment which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which will be positivejand foolproof in operation. The particular object of the invention therefore is to provide an inproved typewriter attachment particulai" y adapted for use in conjunction with ordinar typewriters for making duplicates or in copies without the use of the usual carbon paper.

l Other objects 4of the ,invention will more fully appear from the' following description copying ribbons are mounted;

the line and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the` various objects of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not con` fined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope ofthe claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, p

' Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an ordinary typewriter showing the improved attachment mounted thereon; y

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1 showing the inking ribbons in raised inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2; c Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the inking ribbons raised and also how the sheets of paper to be typed are inserted therebetween;

Figure 5 is a similar `view showing the i' Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view in perspective showing the meansprovided for supporting the inking ribbons y and'v also showing-how they are separated when in i11- ope'rative position;

Figure is a similar view showing the relative position of the ribbons when in operative position; j.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing how a plurality of sheets may be typed at one time;` Figure 9 is a detail sectional View on the line 9-9 of Figure 3 -showinglone of the pins upon which the spools ysupporting the Figure 10 is a front view on 10-10 of Figure 11 showing a modified construction employing one' inking ribbon only; Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 10, and Figures 12 and 13 are detail views showing how the inking ribbon is supported on vthe supporting members provided'therefor, and also' showing the preferred method of detachably mounting a guard ribbon thereon to prevent the inking ribbon from con- 4in this invention includes a supplementall er 18 (see Figures 6 and 7).

The novel typewriter attachment featured frame adapted to be detachably secured to the usual platen carriage of the typewriter so as to travel as a unit therewith when the typewriter is in operation. The supplemental rame of the attachment preferably comprises an intermediate'section 13 having side portions 14 provided thereon which are apertured to receive suitable pivot studs or screws 15 pivotally mounted in apertures provided in the side members 16, as show n in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A thumb screw 17 1s mounted on each stud 15 to lock the side portions 14 of the4 intermediate frame sc tion 13 in adjusted positions as indicated 1n full and dotted lines in Figure 1.

The means provided for supporting the inkin ribbons-preferably consists of a pair of ibon-supporting members or bars-18 and 19 mounted in guides 21 and 22 provided at the juncture between .the .intermediate frame section 13 and the side vportions 14, as particularly shown in Figures 6 and 7. Each ribbon-supporting bar has secured to its lower end a ribbon guide 23 adaptedV to receive the inking ribbons 24 and 25 as shown. Links 26 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the :forward supporting members 19 byl means-of Shoaldered studs 27, preferably Secured to the supporting members. Each stud 27 extends'l through lts complementary link 26: and throu h an elongated aperture or slot 28 rovied in the adjacent. supporting mein- The opposite ends of the links 26 are pivotally connected to a pair of bell cranks 29 and 31 which are operatively connected together by means of a connecting link 32, as shown in Figure 3. An operating lever 33 is referably provided onf thebell crank 31 wliereby the two bell cranks may be simultaneously operated to actuate the ribbon-supporting members 18 and 19. The pur ose of the slots28 in the supporting mem ers 18 is to provide means for separating the inking ribbons 24 and 25, when in raised inoperative position as shown in-Figures 2, 4 and .6. By thus separating the ribbons, the operation of inserting the sheets of paper therebetween will be greatly sim lified as is clearly shown in Figure 4. If tie two ribbons were not separated or spaced one above .the other as above described, it would be necessary to in'- sert a pencil or other device between the two ribbons to separate them sufficiently to permtthe insertion of a sheet of paper therebetween. l

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the proper location of the platen'roller 34 with relation to the' attachment when the. latter is mounted l upon the typewriter. Figure 4 illustrates oneuse of the attachment wherein lthree sheets of paper are shown partially inserted therein to be typed, the inside sheet being placed directly against the platen roller and the second sheet between the two'copying' ribbons, and the third or original between the first copying ribbon and the usual record ribbon 35 of the typewriter. Figure 5 illusit will be noted that the copyn be imprinted upon the three sheets of paper. i

A feature of this invention resides in theA novel means provided for automatically inf creasing the tension in the copying ribbons when moved from the `full line position shown in Figures 2 and 4, to the dotted 'line position in Figure 2 and full line position shown in Figure 5. When the ribbons'are in the full line position shown in Figure 2, they are out of alignment with the type'bar 36 and therefore need not be under as much tension as is desirable vwhen they are downwardly moved into operative position in line with thet`ype bar. Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the guides 21and 22 for the ribbon supporting members 18 and 19 are not parallel, but slightly diverge toward their lower ends so that when4 the copying ribbons are "moved downwardly from the full line to the tion in Figure 2, vthe lower ends of each pair of the supporting members will tend to spread or move away from each other, thereby automatically increasing the tension in the ribbon.. Conversely, when the ribbons are upwardly moved to the full line position in Figure 2, the lower ends of each pair of `supporting members will be inwardy moved toward each other, thereby decreasing the tension inthe ribbons. The ends of eachA copying ribbon are mounted upon a pair of spools 37 as shown in Figuresv 1 and 3. The spools 37 are similarin construction to the spools 38 Vwhich support the usual ribbon 35 of the typewriter, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3., Each spool 37 is demountably and rotatablyV mounted upon a pin 39-secured to the horizontal web 41 of the side frame members 16 as shown in Figure 9, to which the intermediate frame section 13 is pivotally mounted.` -The upper end of each pin 39 is preferably grooved, as shown, to receive a clip 1 42 which functions to retain the spools uponthe pins 39- and also to detachably secure the operating cranks 43 to the pins 39. The cranks 43 lare also provided with means, not shown, for

securing them to the spools whereby when they are rotated, a similar movement will beI lau 39 between a flange 45 provided thereon and the horizontal web 41 of the side 'frame members, seeFigure 9. A ribbon guide 46 is secured to one end of each extension member adapted to receive its complementary ribbon asvshown on the left hand side of Figure 3. The opposite end of Aeach tension member 44 has one end of a tension spring 47 secured thereto which has its opposite end connected to theweb 41 of the sidefraine member 16 as shown in- Figure 3. l-Vhen the -ribbon spools are mounted upon the pins 39 as shown at the right hand side of Figure 3, and the ribbons' are passed through the guides 46, the inner ends of the tension members 44 will tend to oscillate upon the pins v 39 as a center,therebv causing the. outer ends thereof to outwardly move with the result that the springs 47 will be put under tension, thereby causing the ribbons to be likewise put under tension. A small friction lever 48 is,pivotally mounted on each tension member 44 adjacent the springs 47.l These friction levers are adapted to be oscilylated upon their pivots 49 so as to cause the tabs or projections 51- thereof to be inwardly moved over the lower flange of each spool '37, thereby frictionally holding thelower 37 they .willexert a downward pressure flange of each spool 37 against the enlarged circular portions-52 of each side frame member 16. It is to be understood that the projections 51 of lthe friction levers 48 are so shaped and formed that when they Aare moved over the lower flanges of the spools thereagainst l to frictionally prevent the spools from rotating. Vhen the levers are outwardly swungr to the positionshown on the right handside of Figure v3, the spools 37 will be free to rotate so that the position of the ribbons may be readily and convenlent-ly shiftedI with respect to the type bar after which the friction levers 48 are -inwardly moved into engagement with the spools 37 as shown on the left hand. side of Figure 3 wherein it will ybe noted that the spools willi-:be preventedf'rom rotating upofv the pivot pins 39 and the lsprings 47v will, therefore, be put under tension thereby imparting a similar tension to the ribbons. E aeh tension member 44 is preferably prov1ded with a stop lug 53 adapted to engage the inner edge of the framel 41 to limit the movement thereof.

Another in the means provided for holding the sheets of paper being'typed against the periphery of the platen roller. Such means preferably consists of a roller 54 mounted upon a rod or shaft 55 having its ends pivotally mounted in bearings 56 provided upon a `U-shaped bar 57 having its ends pivotally connected to the end frame members 16 by means of pivots 58. Tension springs 59 are provided at' each end of the U-shaped bar 57, each having one end connected to the bar andtheir opposite ends to the side frame members 16 as shown in vF igures 4 and 5. These springs are so 'arranged as to yieldably retain the roller 54 in either of its positions a3 shown. When the roller 54 is swung from its inoperative position in engagement with the piece of paper, as shown in Figure 5, the lower ends of the tension springs 59 will pass over the centers of the pivot pins 58 thereby causing the `roller to be yieldably held against the paper and likewise to be yieldably held in raised inoperative position against a pair of stop lugs 61 formed upon. the brackets 62 to which. the ends of the U-shaped bar 57 are pivotally connected'. rIhese brackets are suitably secured to the feature of this invention resides.'

side frame 'members 16. By the provision'y of the roller 54, the usual means provided on a typewriter for holdingv the paperagainst the platen roller may be dispensed with as the sheets of paper, especially when a plurality of sheets are being typed, may be more Ifirmly held against the platen roller by means of the roller 54 as shown in this invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating how al plurality of sheets y of paper may be typed at one oper-ation.

v In the illustration, here shown, five-sheets.

are printed, one original and four carbon copies. When the four copies' are thus typed, by the use of only two copying ribbons in ,connection with the original ribbon 35fof the typewriter, theoriginal sheet A and thetirst copy B are placed between the Y.original typewriter ribbon 35 andthe front .copying ribbon 24 as shown.

and third copies C and D are placed between.

The second the twocopying ribbons while the fourth copy AEis placed between the ribbon 25 and the platenvroller 34. When live sheets are thus 'typed vat one operation, the first and third copiesB and C are preferably of a very thin paper which is suiciently transparent to permit the impression of the letter or character, made by the impact of the typebar 36 with the ribbon 3,5, to be visible therethrough as it will readily be noted b v closely observing the figure that the copies B and D will be printed upon .their backs 'or opposite sides with reference to the original and second andl fourth copies, which will beiprinted ,bons are a plurality of ink copies may be made in one operation without the use of the/usual carbon paper for making such copies. Also by causing the ribbons 24 and 25 to automatically become separated from one another as shown in Figures and 6, when in raised inoperative po`sition,'the operation of inserting .the paper sheets therebetween is greatly simplified. Also as a result of the intermediate frame section 13, carrying the ribbonsupporting` members 18 and 19, being pivotally mounted as particularly shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5l the frame section '13, and therefore the forward' portions of the ribbons, may be upwardly swung to the position shown in d'otted linesin Figure lso that if desired,

f the typewriter may be used in the ordinary manner employing carbon paper for making carbon copies.v

The side frame members 16 are detachably connected to the' platen carriage by means of tension clips 63 secured-to the horizontal webs 41 of the frame members, and having their lower end-portions adapted Ato engage the ends of the platen carriage as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the end 64 of the carriage being shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate an attachment of modified construction employing one inking ribbon only. In the construction here shown, the ribbon 65 is similarly supported in guides 66, secured to the lower ends of the upright supporting members 67 as shown in Figures 12 and 13. Thefends of the ribbon are similarly mounted upon the spools 37 which are rotatably and detachably mounted upon the pivot pins 39 as shown and described with Areference `to the previous figures. The vribbonI supporting members 67 are similarly operated'by means of a pair ofbell cranks 29r and 31,the latter having an` operating handle -33IL provided thereon for the convenience of the operator in actuating the belly cranks to pivot the ribbon from the full line to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 10- and vice versa. `In the construction here shown, aguard ribbon 68 is also preferably provided in front of the inking ribbon'65 to prevent the originall sheet' of paper' from contact with the inking ribbon 6 5 when being typed.l The i lends of this guard ribbon are detachably se'- `cured to the lower ends of the upright supporting'- members 67 by means of pivoted ily be removed by outwardly swinging the clamps 69 to the dotted line position shown in Figure )12, after which the ribbon ends may readily be disconnected from the teeth 73 and a new one mounted thereon.

I claim as my invention:

1. A typewriter attachment for making copies, including a supplemental frame having means for connection with the platen carriage of a typewriter, means for supporting a pair of ribbons and guiding the same in parallel relation with and in front' of a typewriter platen, comprising two pairs of slidably supported members having ribbon guides, the members of each pair having a link-and-slot inter-connection, to obtain a non-horizontally alined disposition of one memberof each pair, at one limit of translation, and nianually operable means .connecting .with the inter-connection links 'for simultaneously translating both pairs either upwardly or downwardly.

2. A typewriter attachment for 'making carbon copies, includingl a ,supplemental frame having means for connection with the platen carriage of a'typewriter, an inkin'g ribbon, .means for supporting and guiding said ribbon in front of the typewriter platen comprising members slidably mounted in said frame, a bell crankconnected to each member. and an operating lever connected to said bell cranks whereby said members may be simultaneously actuated to move the rib-V bon into and out of operative position in front of the typcwrlterplaten.

3. A typewriter attachment for maln'ngV copies, including a supplemental frame having means` for connection with the platen carriage of a typewriter, means for supporting a pair. of ribbons and guiding the same in parallel relation with and in front of a typewriter platen` comprising two pairs 'of slidably supportedfmembers having ribbon guides, the members of each pair having a link-and-slot inter-connection, to obtain a lnon-horizontally alined disposition of one member of eachpair, at the upper limit of translation, and for vobtaining horizontal `alinement at printing positionfandmanb ally operable meansconnecting with the inter-connection links for simultaneouslv ,op- Y erating both pairs upwardly and -downwardly.-

4. A typewriter attachmentfor making copies, including a supplemental frame having means for connection withy the platen carriage of a typewriter, an inking ribbon, supports slidably borne by said frame and whereon said. ribbon is mounted, and guides for said supports having their lower ends ,diverging, thereby causing the lower ends of said supports to spread when downwardly moved, and automatically increasing the tension of saidribbon when moved into operative position infront of the typewriterv platen. y

5. A typewriter attachment for making copies, including a supplemental frame adapted to be demountably connected to the platen carriage of a typewriter, two pairs of translatably mounted lribbon guide supporting members, a link between the members of each pair having a pivotal connection with one member and a limited translative and pivotal connection withl the other member, and manually operable means for simultaneously raising or lowering the links.

6. A `typewriter attachment -for making copies including a 'supplemental frame adapted to be demountably connected to the platen carriage of a typewriter, an inking ribbon, spools for supporting said ribbon rotatably mounted upon said frame whereby said ribbon may be ad'usted longitudinally to present a fresh printing surface to the type, and means adapted to maintain said ribbon under constanttension, said means com ris-V ing lever-like guide and tension mem ers, one ivoted co-a-xially with the axis of each spoo and-having its ribbon vguide disposed be ond the spool periphery. f

A typewriter attachment for making copies,inc1uding a frame adapted to be mounted upon the platen carriage of a typewriter, plural airs of ribbon supporting members trans atively mounted in said frame, a linkointerconnecting the members of each pair, said` link pivotally connected with one member and `having a limited sliding connection with the other, and manually operable means connectingl with the links for raising and lowering t e same.

8. A typewriter attachment for making copies including a frame adapted to be mounted upon the platen carriage of a typeframe, a pair of inking ribbons adapted to e have their end portion connected 4to said spools, ribbon supporting members mounted in guides in said frame, an operating lever for actuating said supporting members to move the ribbons into and out of working and non-working positions, and means for separating said ribbons when in non-working-positlon to permit convenient insertion of paper therebetween, said means com` prising elongated apertures in two of said supporting members whereby, when all of said members are move-d into non-working position, said ribbons will be out of horizontal .alinement.

9. A device of the class described including a frame having plural pairs of ribbon carriers and guides slidable therein, link and slot connections between the members of each pair for moving one member by the other to obtain translation of one in advance of the other, to bring the ribbons carried by respective pairs into opposition at one limit osition of the carriers, and to non-opposlngly dispose the same at an opposite limit position, and an operating lever having connections with the links for simultaneously moving said links in opposite directions.

10. Adevice of the class described comprising a irst frame attachable to a typewriter carriage and having ribbon spools thereon, a second frame pivoted to the first and having a pair of ribbon carriers slidable therein, each carrier having a guide providing angularly related arms respectively extendin in direction of the ribbon spools and towar the guides of opposite carriers', the first-mentioned guides being open at the top and the last mentioned closed thereat wherei by when the carriers are translated to bring FRANK DovERsP'IKE. 

